The Democrats’ Affordability Trap
We don’t need to guess what happens to politicians who campaign on affordability and don’t deliver. We saw it last night.
Democrats celebrated their midterm victories last night, but their joy may be short-lived. The party’s success in rallying against Donald Trump’s economic policies has left them with limited tools to address soaring prices in Congress. Election day revealed the impact of rising costs on American households: orange juice prices increased by nearly 25% since Trump’s return to office, and candy prices rose by 71% over five years.
Gas prices hit a historic $4 per gallon on Election Day for the first time. While Democrats might have hit a political jackpot with voters’ concerns over affordability, they now face a challenge in delivering on these promises. Real wages have declined over the past year, indicating that voters are feeling the pinch of higher costs.
President Biden and Vice President Harris have struggled to present a coherent economic agenda, further emphasizing the need for effective policies to tackle inflation. Trump’s focus on the economy, despite lacking a concrete plan, helped him gain ground with voters. Democrats will need to find a way to restore Americans' confidence in their ability to bring prices down, as Republicans have already vowed to veto any legislation that might help.
Written by urgent.news from The Atlantic's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
